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Elderly parents

What would you do

29 replies

MyPurpleHeart · 28/11/2022 08:32

So this isn't about my parents it's about my grandparent

DGM is almost 100 and after losing my DGF 5 years ago she's living in absolute squalor, but it's refusing any help to the point where she's threatening to kill herself if we do anything

Her house is big and old, her heating broken and she won't let us fix it or let anyone in the house to fix it. The same for her washing machine, hot water, bathtub and upstairs sink. Her house is cold, dirty and to be frank a horrible experience to visit.

She has plenty of money stored away in the bank, enough to leave that house and life her years in absolute comfort. More so I wish she would, I wish she would sell up and spend her money living her last years happy warm and comfortable but she won't. She hates the thought and when I discuss options with her she says that if we so much as bring a plumber in she will take all of the pills she has in the house and kill herself.

I've spoken to adult social services and begged them to get involved and they have refused. She is mentally well so they can't force her to do anything. I've asked them to come and see the house and they won't. They say if she wants to live that way they can't do anything to stop her.

We try and muddle on as best we can, each family member visits weekly and cleans up as much as possible and takes groceries. She won't go out to shop nor give anyone access to her bank card so she has to be taken to a cash point and then gives us the cash to pay her bills on our cards rather than set up a direct debit. When asked if she wanted someone to have access to her account to sort her bills I was accused of trying to steal her money in the middle of a busy NatWest on a Saturday morning

The whole situation is miserable and I can't do it anymore. I'm currently 4 months pregnant and can't carry on doing this when the baby comes (DGM lives 90 minutes drive away) which just places more of a burden on my parents who are in their 70s and also 90 minutes drive away from DGM.

Any advice would be appreciated, I'm at my wits end and just don't know what to do anymore.

OP posts:
MyPurpleHeart · 28/11/2022 08:53

I'm sorry but it's not different standards. Shes filthy dirty. Her clothes are soiled, and she has no washing machine. It's actually unsanitary. I wouldn't let my dog live like that, you have no idea how hard it is to watch my grandmother in this state.

OP posts:
MintJulia · 28/11/2022 08:46

Your DGM is entitled to live how she pleases. She has different standards to you but that is her business.

Your parents have to decide how much assistance they can give, and the best you can do is keep an eye on that, and encourage them to reduce help, to the point your DGM is forced to compromise.

On cash, my DM was the same about her bank card so I used to take money to her and she gave me a cheque. It saved taking her out if she wasn't feeling up to it.

AluckyEllie · 28/11/2022 08:40

It is really ,really hard. I’ve never experienced this personally but I work as a nurse and I see issues with the elderly refusing help/not accepting change in circumstances all the time. Unfortunately as she does have capacity social services cannot help. If you have capacity you can make ‘unwise’ decisions and live life however you please. It doesn’t make it any easier for you though!
Does she give reasons why she doesn’t want anyone coming in or anything fixed? I’m assuming the bills thing is a suspicion of online banking etc. Have a frank discussion with her about it, about how you will be busy when baby comes and less able to visit. You won’t be bringing baby to her house due to the conditions but she is welcome at yours. Decide how much you are willing to do and stick to it. Sadly it may be a fall or illness or a catastrophe that is the only thing that will result in change if she cannot see the need currently.

Helenloveslee4eva · 28/11/2022 08:37

I’m afraid social services are right. She is allowed , as long as she understands the possible consequences , to live as she wishes including making unwise choices.

it’s so hard to watch though x